Some people say a man is made out of mud
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood, skin and bones...
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong
_________________
CHORUS
You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?
another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
__________________
I was born one mornin' and the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal and
the straw boss said, «well bless my soul!»
...you loaded...
CHORUS
__________________
I was born one mornin' it was drizzlin' rain
fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in a cane-brake by an old mama lion
can't no high-toned woman make me walk no line
CHORUS
_________________
If you see me comin', better step aside
A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died
One fist of iron, the other of steel
If the right one don't get you, then the left one will
CHORUS
__________________
You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

ПЕРЕВОД

Ты отгрузил 16 тонн и что же?
На день ты постарел, в долгах погрязши глубже
И не зови меня к себе, о Боже,
Ведь я компании давно уж продал душу

И кто-то говорит, что все сотворены из грязи
А бедный человек - из мускулов и крови
Крови и мускулов, костей и кожи
И мысли слабой и спины, где сила

Да, я родился утром - солнце не светило
Поднял с земли кайло и прогулялся к шахтам
Добыл 16 тонн угля, угля девятой марки
Десятник мне орал: «Отлично, будь я проклят!»

Вот так, под моросящий дождь родившись утром,
Я наречен несчастием и дракой
Взращенный мамой-львицей в чаще тростниковой
С пути не буду сбит девчонкою красивой

Вы, лишь меня завидев, в сторону шагните,
Из многих не сумевших - столько же умерших
Один кулак мой - как чугун, второй - из стали
И если правым не сумел, то левым убиваю.

Some people say a man is made out of mud
A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood, skin and bones...
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong
_________________
CHORUS
You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?
another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store
__________________
I was born one mornin' and the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal and
the straw boss said "well bless my soul!"
...you loaded...
CHORUS
__________________
I was born one mornin' it was drizzlin' rain
fightin' and trouble are my middle name
I was raised in a cane-brake by an old mama lion
can't no high-toned woman make me walk no line
CHORUS
_________________
If you see me comin', better step aside
A lot of men didn't, a lot of men died
One fist of iron the other of steel
If the right one don't get you then the left one will
CHORUS
__________________
You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

TRANSLATION

You loaded 16 tons and what?
On the day you have grown old, steeped in debt deeper
And don't call me to yourself, o God,
I the company has long since sold his soul

And someone says that all things were made from dirt
And the poor man of muscle and blood
Blood and muscles, bones and skin
And thoughts are weak and the back, where the force

Yes, I was born in the morning - the sun was shining
He picked up a pick and went to the mines
Produced 16 tons of coal, coal ninth brand
The foreman yelled to me: "Great, I'll be damned!"

So, under drizzling rain in the morning born,
I called misfortune and fight
Nurtured Mama-lioness in a thicket of cane
The path will not be hit by a beautiful girl

You are only seeing me in the direction of the step,
Many failed - same dead
My one fist is iron as second - made of steel
And if not managed right, then left killed.